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Jane and other great dames
Published: 10/11/2007 2:28 PM
Last Modified: 10/11/2007 2:28 PM

A female colleague took me to task the other day for my review of “The Jane Austen Book Club,” which I liked to the degree that I thought it was worthwhile, if unspectacular.

She took this to mean that it apparently pained me greatly to find anything nice to say about romantic comedies, even when I enjoy one. The generality is true: I do find most of today’s romantic comedies to be trite copies of films that have been done so many times before, and so much better.

I’m embarrassed for Kate Hudson’s career, by way of example.

The predictability of storylines like boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl-back by picture’s end is something that women like, she told me, something that women expect.

I think women should expect more out of the women they see on screen, who should be a reflection of society.

That doesn’t mean half of all romantic comedies should end in divorce – that would be a genre-killer – but is it asking too much that the women in these films have a bit more brains and be less in need of rescue?

Within minutes, we were agreeing that we both watch some of “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle” any time we see them on TV, which is often. There is certainly an element of predictability in that equation.

Which begs the question: Are women finding new romantic comedies that they deeply embrace? Or do they keep going back to the theater, desperately seeking the new Meg Ryan, only to come home disappointed and find her waiting at home on the small screen?

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t (5 years ago)

Your blog is a month old dude!

Woman in Oklahoma City (5 years ago)

I am behind in reading your blog I admit. But I wanted to say, "Amen." I agree that sometimes we want the woman not to go back with the man or at least make him work for it.

PSzeiPscGbcZRnJNEO (4 years ago)

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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